_An exhortation to praise God for his mercy. The Psalmist by his experience sheweth how good it is to trust in God. Under the type of the Psalmist, the coming of Christ in his kingdom is expressed._ DR. DELANEY is of opinion, that this psalm was composed by David, after his victory over the Philisti... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD ANSWERED ME, AND SET ME IN A LARGE PLACE,— _The Lord answered me with enlargement._ Mudge.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD TAKETH MY PART, &C.— Or, _The Lord is to me among my helpers; therefore shall I look upon them that hate me._... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL NATIONS COMPASSED ME ABOUT, &C.— It is very plain from these words, that the neighbouring nations had entered into a league against David, and that this psalm was written before he had destroyed them, and consequently in the beginning of his reign. See 2 Samuel 7:1 and Psalms 83. I would just ob... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST THRUST SORE AT ME.— This apostrophe is strong; and probably directed to some particular person in the battle, who had put David into great danger.... [ Continue Reading ]
I SHALL NOT DIE, &C.— These verses express how near death he thought himself to have been. _I shall not die, i.e._ as I had feared. God had given him some correction, namely, by endangering his person, and putting him in fear, or possibly permitting him to receive some hurt; but had not suffered him... [ Continue Reading ]
OPEN TO ME THE GATES, &C.— If, as we have supposed, this psalm was sung in parts in a public procession to the tabernacle, up mount Sion, the meaning here is, "Now that we are advanced in our procession to the castle of mount Sion, open to me those sacred gates, ye Levites, who are entrusted with be... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL PRAISE THEE, &C.— That is, "And now, being entered into the courts of thy tabernacle, O my gracious God, I pay thee my most humble thanks for having so favourably heard the prayers which I put up to thee in my grievous afflictions in Saul's reign, and for having now fully advanced me to the r... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD IS THE LORD, &C.— _The Lord is God, for he hath shone upon us,_ Mudge; who observes, that the people say this, perceiving a divine illumination upon them in answer to their prayer; Psalms 118:25. And in consequence of the priest's benediction, Psalms 118:26 they recognized Jehovah for the only G... [ Continue Reading ]